The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7187 p285-287
2 March 2002

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Letters to the Editor

The profession (2 letters)

Are vitamins the answer to overwork?

From Miss K. Newton, MRPharmS

With the current debate about new directions for the profession, as a newly qualified pharmacist I struggle to visualise the practicalities of the ideas suggested.

Working daily in a busy community pharmacy and suffering exhaustion and malaise by the end of my working week, I fail to see where the extra time (and energy) will be found to perform these services.

When recently complaining to higher management about my overworked state, I was asked if I needed vitamin supplements.

Surely this is not the answer to pharmacists' problems. More support, understanding and structured time to develop new roles is missing and we will remain over-qualified dispensers until something drastic is done.

Kirsty Newton
Bradford

The Society should become a trade union

From Mr B. J. Hewitt, MRPharmS

In the PJ of 16 February (p197) it says, "Government bows to pressure for dispensing fee rise". What? There is no rise. It is merely that the severity of the slap in the face we must endure has been lessened. How much longer will this profession allow itself to be taken for a fool?

It is interesting that this item appeared in the same issue as an item asking the direction the Royal Pharmaceutical Society should take (p226). I would welcome a Society that stands up for the working rights of its members, and gives us back some of the respect "retailers" have stolen from us. It is time pharmacy is given back to pharmacists, and not ruled by retailers whose only concern is to increase revenue. The Society should become a trade union.

Ben Hewitt
Bristol

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